"Top-Notch Engineering and Revealing Sound Quality"
The TecnoDec is Michell Engineering's entry-level turntable. The term "entry-level" for any Michell product means superlative high-end performance at an affordable price. The TecnoDec shares many features developed for its bigger sibling, the GyroDec, such as the vibration dampening, impedance-matched platter, inverted oil circulating main bearing, and a free-standing motor unit.
The TecnoDec is an 'unsuspended' turntable that utilizes materials and technologies not normally found in entry-level turntables, allowing you hear much more from your music.
You can order the TecnoDec with an optional Michell T2 or T3 tonearm. Or you can order it without a tonearm and use one of your own.
"Clear and Open Soundstage"
"The TecnoDec neat little disc spinner is the least expensive model in Michell Engineering's range and does without the suspension and fancy platters of its brethren, instead relying on good-quality engineering to make its sonic case," reports techradar.com. "This nicely engineered baby in the Michell range needs careful partnering, but can deliver a very sophisticated result for the money."
"I walked into this review wondering if the TecnoDec still had a place in today’s market for analogue fans," notes theaudiophileman.com. "The clean and open soundstage will attract many audiophiles on their own. Don’t forget too that this company will not abandon you when you buy from them. They are there for the long haul and will provide quality support for many years to come."
Freestanding Motor Unit
Machined from a solid billet of aircraft grade aluminum, the turntable motor unit is designed to minimize any transfer of tiny vibrations to the sensitive parts of the turntable that might otherwise be created when the motor is running. When the turntable is in operation, the only connection between the motor and the rest of the turntable is the drive belt turning the platter. This innovation lifts the performance of the TecnoDec and sets it apart from the competition.
Inverted Oil-Circulating Main Bearing
Michell goes its own way whenever highest performance is at stake. Contrary to traditional designs, the main bearing for the platter has the point of rotation at the top of the assembly rather than at the bottom. This orientation allows Michell to fully lubricate the inside of the entire bearing while the platter is turning. This is achieved using a modified Archimedean screw that is machined into the inside bore of the bearing.
The oil is drawn from a reservoir at the base of the main bearing up to the thrust ball at the top, fully lubricating as it goes. The oil then returns to the reservoir via a waste hole drilled into the bearing spindle. Lubricating the precision parts of the main bearing in this way means that any potential for noise or vibration created by the rotation of the platter is avoided.
Impedance-Matched Platter
The impedance-matched platter uses material that was chosen for its vibration dampening characteristics. Sonically it is constructed from a very similar material to vinyl and therefore has a very neutral sound characteristic.
Pure Sorbothane Foot Inserts
Designed to isolate the turntable from structural vibration in the supporting surface, the feet of the TecnoDec use inserts made of pure Sorbothane, which is one of the best materials available for dissipating vibrational energy.
Optional Michell T3 Tonearm
If you like, you can order the TecnoDec with an optional Michell T3 tonearm. Every aspect of this new tonearm has been improved over its predecessor, from improved ergonomics and usability to overall sonic performance. It features a new bias assembly, re-designed stiffer vertical bearing housing, integrated arm clip and an improved spring housing with easier-to-read numbers for set-up convenience.
Designed using the latest 3D CAD and CAM technology, the T3 has a brand new bearing housing and Michell's latest tonearm tube. Meticulously engineered for intelligent redistribution of mass, this arm will exhibit fewer points of possible resonance. Extreme stability with almost friction free movement from the new high precision bearing assembly will extract more information from your vinyl than ever before. Other improvements include precision horizontal and vertical bearings and a redesigned 100g milled steel balance weight.
Included is a low capacitance phono cable terminated with premium 'Neutrik' plugs.
Optional Michell T2 Tonearm
The TecnoDec is also available with an optional T3 tonearm. The T2 is the latest, improved incarnation of one of Michell's most popular tonearms. It takes full advantage of Michell's brand new arm tube and the current three point arm mounting system. The T2 uses a custom one-piece aluminum arm tube, carefully manufactured to optimize performance and reduce stress on the ultra-low-friction polymer bearings.
Each T2 is carefully hand assembled, resulting in a precision crafted tonearm with extremely low friction levels and a high level of overall performance way beyond the expectations of a product at this price point. This level of care ensures perfect tracking and maximizes the amount of information the cartridge can extract from the record surface.
The T2 now employs the same wiring as the T3, and includes low capacitance phono cable terminated with premium 'Neutrik' plugs.
